This score is a ranking based on how natural,
eco-friendly, and non-toxic a product is, and is rated out of a possible total 5 stars.

STARS: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
COMMENTS: There is a raging debate over the safety of fluoride. Depending on which website you go to, you will hear entirely different arguments, one side claiming that fluoride is a "wonder substance", totally harmless iin the quantities we are exposed to, and the side claiming that corporate mongrels have dumped the fluoride situation on the public as a means of using up large quantities of a hazardous by-product. I am including links to both extremes, so you can decide for yourself. In the meantime, Tom's toothpaste is a great way to avoid fluoride until we know for sure.

We do not like to see sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in Tom's toothpaste and have significantly marked down their Green Screen Score because of that. SLS is a known irritant that causes skin irritations in some people, and though it has been given a low hazard score of 2 out of 10 by the Environmental Working Group, we believe that it is a chemical to be avoided. Many companies claim it is natural, because it is derived from coconut oil, but the truth is the process is so chemical in nature that the end product, SLS, really is nothing like coconut oil at all. Tom's believes that as a foaming agent and emulsifier, it is essential to give their toothpastes the "look and feel" of traditional toothpaste. That is for you to decide. (Want to avoid SLS? Check out Tooth Savior or Tom's SLS-Free Sensitive Care Toothpaste.)

Read what Tom's has to say about SLS:

"We are well aware of the widespread Internet rumors regarding SLS and its use in shampoos, toothpaste, and other products. At Tom's we are concerned about the safety and efficacy of our products, so we take these rumors seriously. Specifically, we have heard claims that SLS is linked to cancer, cataracts, liver or kidney damage, and other maladies. These widespread rumors have been investigated by respected publications such as The Washington Post and The Berkeley Wellness Newsletter, both of which have called them a "sham" and a "hoax." The American Cancer Society has also created an information page debunking the claims. So rampant are these rumors that they are even addressed on the Urban Legends website, which provides additional reputable sources of information about SLS research.

We, too, have researched these claims extensively and have found them to be completely unsubstantiated. As formulated for cosmetic use, SLS has not been found to cause cancer in any recognized scientific research studies. When used in our toothpaste, SLS has limited contact with the gums and is then rinsed out. In the body sprays, a very low level of SLS is used, just enough to disperse the fragrance oils. And to ensure consumer safety, a clinical study was run on the body spray to verify that this level of SLS in the product did not cause irritation when left on the skin. At the levels used in our products, SLS has no known toxicity—not even when ingested."

That being said, this toothpaste is free of fluoride and many of the other harsh chemicals in conventional toothpastes, and so is a much better choice than many mainstream brands.

Fluoride: Wonder Drug or Super Poison?

Fluoridation: Don't Let the Poisonmongers Scare You